"I can't tell you that, sir. All I know is that, sixteen long years ago, I was a servant there, and Miss Mavis liked me. I got on well with Bellaria too, although she had her fits of terror at times--why I can't say, but she often seemed to be scared by her very shadow. Major Rebb was away then with his regiment in Jamaica." "Oh! And Miss Mavis lived at the Pixy's House?" "She was and is kept a prisoner there," said Mrs. Geary, whose tongue seemed to be very loose with the drink, else she would scarcely have talked so boldly. "Major Rebb came home with Geary, who had been his servant in Jamaica. Geary stopped at the Pixy's House, while his master went to London. He fell in love with me, and quarreled with Bellaria. They were like cat and dog, so when Major Rebb came down he said that if I would marry Geary he would keep my old mother out of the poorhouse. I didn't dislike Geary then, and I wanted my mother to be comfortable for the rest of her life. I agreed, and married Geary. Major Rebb settled us in the Devon Maid fifteen years ago, and since then my life has been a hell, with that villain. Geary will kill me some day," added the woman in a matter-of-fact tone, "unless I kill myself first." "But a big woman like you can manage him." "Not when he threatens with that yellow-handled knife he holds, sir. I fear that knife. Geary says that it was used in some African sacrifice in Jamaica, and the sight of it makes me sick. Because of Geary's treatment I took to drink, and he's always threatening to kill me, unless I leave it off. How can I," cried Mrs. Geary, throwing open her arms, "when it is the only thing that makes me able to stand the brute?" "Does he strike you?" "He beats me and kicks me, and threatens me with the knife. Don't tell him that I said so, sir," cried Mrs. Geary, with sudden terror, for the drink was dying out of her, "if you do he'll kill me. I am afraid of death," she added, looking into the silver water, "if I were not I would end everything in yonder stream." "I won't say a word, Mrs. Geary," said Haskins soothingly, "your husband will never hear anything from me. Why does he live here?" "To watch the Pixy's House," said Mrs. Geary, "to see that Miss Mavis don't get away. If she did, and learned what she should learn, the Major wouldn't be able to dash about in motor cars." "Is it money?" asked Gerald eagerly. Mrs. Geary drew her shawl tightly round her massive form. "I don't know rightly what it is," she said, in her heavy voice. "Geary says very little, but what he does say shows that Major Rebb will never let Miss Mavis leave that house. And she's not mad, poor lamb. She's a poor innocent angel, the sport of villains. I'll go now, Mr. Haskins, and mind, I have your word to say nothing." "You have," said Gerald as she turned away, "but if you want to help Miss Mavis----"